This article was written by Jeanine Moyer, Farmtario. To view the full article, visit farmtario's website

Expansion of Sustainability Program Serves Soy Value Chain

Jeanine Moyer for Farmtario Media

Sustainable Canadian Soy program creates value for farmers and encourages Canadian exporters to work together.

Interest in the Sustainable Canadian Soy program has nearly tripled since its launch last year, and the international customers who were asking for the program are happy with the results.

“This is a great success story for our industry. The complete value chain came together to seize an opportunity to enhance value for growers, exporters and customers,” says Brian Innes, Soy Canada’s executive director.

He says the program shares how Canadian soybeans are grown using sustainable practices with customers around the world, and backs it up with a globally recognized verification program.

The program launched in March 2023 with three Canadian soybean exporters. Five export companies are now on board with the prospect of four more joining by the end of 2024.

“All major Canadian exporters of food grade soybeans have either implemented it or are working on it. This represents significant growth and shows that our customers appreciate what the program offers,” says Innes.

Market Driven Opportunities

A grassroots-driven initiative, the program was developed by a working group that included farmers who saw the need to create value for themselves, and encourage Canadian exporters to work together. The group saw the opportunity to deliver a program that could compete with other countries to serve customers looking for sustainability verification. The program itself was led by Soy Canada, who oversaw the two-year development process that included industry-wide consultation.

“There’stremendous value in the consistency of the program, and a program developed with farmers at the table,” notes Innes who says working collaboratively as an industry reduced the workload for individual exporting companies who were being asked for a verification system from their buyers.

Growers from Quebec, Ontario, and Manitoba helped make sure the questions asked of Canadian soybean growers to join the program made sense for their region.

“The program helps us demonstrate our commitment to sustainable production practices, which is especially important to our Japanese customers,” says Matt Renkema from Sevita International, one of the latest exporting companies to implement the program. “Now, we can provide a verified sustainable product that ensures our growers have continued access to premium markets and market opportunities.”

Implemented by Canadian grain exporters and handlers, the Sustainable Canadian Soy program involves grower self-assessments and rigourous third-party verification, with a focus on continuous improvement. These efforts provide a supply of third-party verified sustainable soybeans, helping buyers meet their sustainable sourcing goals and requirements.

Ernie Sirski, a grower from Dauphin, Man. who has participated in outgoing market development missions to Europe and the Indo Pacific region, says he’s heard directly from global customers that they are eager to source verified sustainable Canadian soybeans.

“Canada produces some of the highest quality soybeans available in the world, and now we can expand our reputation to include our commitment to sustainability and demonstrate our stewardship,” he says.

Demonstrate Sustainable Practices

The greatest advantage Canada’s sustainable verification program has over other international competitors, including the United States, is its association with the Farm Sustainability Assessment (FSA). The FSA is a globally recognized whole farm sustainability benchmarking and assessment program that demonstrates how the Sustainable Canadian Soy program is comparable to other origins.

“FSA verification allows farmers to demonstrate sustainability performance and buyers to understand how that performance compares to other sustainability claims,” says Innes, who heard from buyers first-hand just how much they appreciate this new program during the February 2024 Soy Canada market development mission to Japan and Thailand.

Innes says the soy food manufacturers who purchase Canadian food-grade soybeans increasingly want to assure their end-use customers and consumers that they are sourcing from a sustainable supply chain. “We understand the need to provide assurance to customers at every point of the soy value chain, and now we are delivering,” he says.

Since the announcement of the program, Soy Canada has fielded buyer requests to increase the visibility of the program. Innes says the organization is working towards this goal. In the meantime, the organization continues to support the program by delivering a system for shipments of verified sustainable soybeans and is exploring food product branding.

Soy Canada will also be focused on leveraging the globally recognized FSA program and enhancing the understanding of this EU-based system in top Canadian food grade soybean buying countries like Japan.

Value for Canadian Growers

Sirski says he’s also heard positive feedback from Canadian soybean growers participating in the sustainable verification program.

“Growers have already been following sustainable production practices for decades, and in some cases, generations,” says Sirski. “The survey that growers complete is an opportunity for them to validate the sustainable practices they follow for their farms, their communities, and our environment.”

He says many of the participating growers welcome the self-assessment and are using it as part of their own farm business and risk management plans.

Participation in the Sustainable Canadian Soy program is voluntary and is managed by Canadian soybean handlers and exporters. To date, the program is open to all Soy Canada members, with exporters currently signing up Identity Preserved (IP) and food grade soybean growers.

“We plan to continue building on the success of the Sustainable Canadian Soy program, using this new platform to tell the world about our complete value chain commitment to sustainable soy,” says Innes.